CINCINNATI -- The Florida Marlins have the top three
hitters in their lineup to thank for a much-needed offensive
show.
Hanley Ramirez, fellow rookie Dan Uggla and Miguel Cabrera
combined for nine hits, six runs and six RBIs as the Marlins
posted a 12-6 triumph over the Cincinnati Reds.
Florida, which entered with a National League-low 47 runs,
erupted for six runs in the first two innings. Ramirez led off
the game with a homer and added a two-run shot in the second for
the first multi-homer game of his career.
The leadoff blast was the first by a Marlin on the road since
Mark Kotsay did it at San Diego on May 2, 2000.
"We want to win games and things have not gone our way," Cabrera
said. "So when we get going and play like we played today, we
will win games. We are swinging like we want to win."
"If you make pitches, you are gonna get players out," Reds
manager Jerry Narron said. "They are major league players. If
you make a mistake, they are gonna hit you."
Uggla also homered in the second against Reds starter Eric
Milton (2-1), who was roughed up for nine runs in 4 1/3 innings.
The lefthander had allowed just four earned runs over his first
two starts.
"(Milton) has thrown well," Narron said. "We haven't seen
anything like this all spring. He just seemed to be keeping it
up. I knew he did not have his good stuff."
Miguel Olivo and rookie Reggie Abercrombie, who snapped an
0-for-22 streak, each drove in a pair of runs for the Marlins,
who ended a three-game slide.
Rookie Josh Johnson (1-0) tossed three hitless innings in relief
of starter Jason Vargas, who surrendered six runs - five earned
- in four-plus innings, to record his first major league win.